Snap on clip



Ap" 2, 1946. E. MQREHQUSE SNAP-ON CLIP Filed May 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. ,M. MOREHQUSE SNAP ON CLIP Filed May 8. 1944 April2, 1946.

Patented Apr. 2, 1946 SNAP N cm Eugene M. Morehouse, .Tujunga, Califassignor to Adel Precision Products'ConL, a corporation of CaliforniaApplication May 8, 1944, Serial No. 534,675

4 Claims. (Cl. 24874) This invention relates to a wire or conduitsupporting clips which are adapted to be mounted on a support tomaintain the wires or conduit in the desired position, particularly inaircraft where the wire or conduits are subjected to constant jarringand vibratory stresses, and should be securely anchored at closelyspaced intervals to the structural parts of the aircraft past andadjacent to which they extend, to protect them against damaging wear andprevent derangement thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide a clip of the characterdescribed in'which fastening members on the ends thereof are constructedto serve an important dual purpose, viz: the closing and clamping of theclip on the wires or conduit and the fastening of the clip to thesupport .with the clip locked in clamping position around the wires orconduit, without the use of screws, bolts, nuts and like extraneousfastenings.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clip of the characterdescribed in which an open'spring metal wire-embracing loop or band isprovided at its ends with outwardly extending snap fastening memberswhich when brought into closely spaced opposed relation to one anotherserve as a male type snap fastening element and upon being-insertedthrough an opening in a support for the clip will snap apart into aposition securely holding the clip on the support against accidental orunintentional dislodgment therefrom, thereby making possible a quickserted to "snap on the clip and thus secure it to the support.

A further object is to provide a clip such as described in which thepressure of the wires or conduits therein, that is, the internalpressures, which tend to force the ends of the clip apart including theforces developedaby the spring ac- ;tion of the clip, operate to forcethe snap fastening members into tighter or more effective holdingcontact with the supportvwhereby a secure fastening of the clip to thesupport and the maintaining of the clip in the desired position areassured.

A further object is to provide a clip such as described in which theremoval thereof from the support may be readily effected by forcingtogether the snap fastening members and forcibly pulling outwardly onthe clip. 1

Yet another object is to provide a clip. such as described in which thesnap fastening members are so constructed as to permit of the insertiontherebetween of a plug as like locking member after the clip is mountedon the support, to positively prevent withdrawal or removal of the clipfrom the support, it being necessary to remove such plug or lockingmember before the clip can be removed from the support.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clip such as describedwhich after being mounted on the support may be turned 360 degrees todispose it in any position desired while securely held on the support.

A further object 'of this invention is to provide a clip such asdescribed which readily lends itself to the support of a cushion stripaffording a cushioned seat for wires or conduit in a particularlyeflicacious manner to prevent chafing wear and consequent damage and,insuring an effective clamping and holding of groups of wires of varyingdiameters.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear the invention is carried intoeffect as. illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a, perspective view of a clip embodying my invention asinstalled:

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the clip as shown in Fig. 1: g

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the clip as it would appear beforeinstallation and insertion of the wires therein: 4

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the clip as it would appear after thewires are in place and the ends are hooked together in readiness formounting the clip on the support: 1

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the installed clip (wires omitted) showingin dotted lines how it can be turned to desired position whilev held onthe support:

-Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the clip'as it would appear without thewires therein and when re moved from the support:

Figs.v '7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views showing the manner inwhich the snap fastening view showing a removable plug-like locking memeber applied to the clip to lock the clip on the i it positively locksthe members 16 against resupport:

Fig. 12 is a part sectional part elevatignalview of another modifiedform offmy invention as it would appear before completion ofinstallation thereof:

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to Fig. 12 showing the clip of Fig. 12as it would appeaig l. n... .stel d. n th su e t h refo h jRefer'ring tothe drawings more spe ir a-iiy it is seenthat my improved clip generallycomprisesj a springjmiia openloop or split band It "adapte'gito be.closed'around abundle or group of re its "end's' with outwardlyprojecting, opposed snap fa ening m mber a b e thr u h an openin'g flina support l 8 wh'ich"latterfor exempiemey be afst iei rai part or anaircraft, ldfthe loop *or band effectively clamped ound the j ires 'o'rconduit and at the same time i j f sten t e flip tbi ite r ...fi s;h r sviw hf min et o w s f ast'enij 1 ineihber sflfi are formed as integralextensions of the ends of the loop or band Hi and are substantiallysemi-cylindrical or simil'arly arcuate in 'erb ssfsec'tidr and havetheir con- 5p; ajconduit not'sh'own, and provided at fcave sides opposedto provide for desiredstrength I and an easy insertion through theopening in the support. These members T6 are normally spaced apartsufliciently to faeilitat placing the wires in the band or applying theband with a snap action around the'wi'rs or 'a conduit, also maybereadily forcedapa'rt to open the band for a'fifealsy placement of wiistheiein orthe placementor-the band on the wiresor otherobject to Hesupported; T

' At a pfii'fit 'inter'mediatetheir ends the fastening members I B arestruck-orpunchedyoutwardly to form arduate rounded shoulder or humps l9,outwardly 'from'which each "of the members is is tapered. as atf'20, tosomewhat of a rounded pointlil whereby the members mayibe :easilyinserted in the opening. flgof the support is.

Where thepwir'es are in place'in the band M the members I6 may jbef'heldin close proximity .te. qne' n so hat. herm b inserted through theopening I! of the support as shown nF nd W enthe b m ere beenpassedithrdugh the opening ll the members l8 twill spring apart w'ith asnap actionand bring the humps into gripping and tens'iolned Contactwith, t esuppert 18 around rhe margin "er the open there 11 .the'iebyio'ckin'g tlji'fclip en the tripped em around the wires, snap. on"

operation of the clipvmay benuiekiy and'ieasi ly carried o t and isparticularly advantageous for ihisrrea sjo j iallii becalis ne ds,.faste'nings such as bolts, nuts,screws 11d quir -i -Bembi e t s l pmayi e e e t d b tam n the opposed ends of the "njiembers ititog'etherfl df i i l i th I. utdf hn mg IT ir esr i'l ln, he l nw 'miitor-r'emoyal of wiresk theli'l ie are not 7 s ring be n f i i 'e shown"in Figs.- .1V and 2, "thereby. providing hadnemevement strip may be omitawn'ere a will provide the advantages herein L an apical po on temp rawith a snap action and may be removed by means oi a: suitable tool whendesired. When in place.

Thefr infemberg 3; when in looking position, due to their'semiecylindrical form, provide a pivot permittingtheclip to be turnedthrough 360 degrees-in either'direction as indicated in Fig. 5 wherebythe clip may be disposed in various, po-

is" not "deemed necessary a set for a u ly eificaciou manner, V Thecushion 24' is rovi'de with rbeiit flanges zerwhich wilr'gripthe sideedges and "overlie the outer surface or tlie'bandltohoidthe ushio'n ontheibah'd- Tubular; flexible and deform-ewe ribs .26 are formed onthediishidn to possible an effective cushion action with rela ly thinrcushidningfmaterial-{and provide "for-accommodation of bundlesfof wiresor of conduits i, IAsihere shown: the band ldi-is provided withsubstantially straightjorfiat bearing portions M adjacent its ends;disposed to "abutgthe. support |8;,as shovininfiFigpa Portionspfvtherepent flanges 25 overlie. .the 1 flatsbearing :portions 14 cushionsbetween, said-flat portions and 1- the support lisp-that gthemetal';;band:do es fnot neces- Supp UiBe- 1 7 a ;.1.b bend lime! be? weded-. P na j nsteee e t ie ale i e e r e m-r w th iiieinemters It.

Ani

ing members It are provided with oppositely facing rounded or curvedhooks 28 formed integral therewith at points inwardly spaced from thehumps [9. Looking at Fig. 3 it is seen that the upper member l6 has thehook on the left side there-of and the lower member 16 has the hook onits right side. It is now apparent that when the members l6 are forcedtogether to close the band I4 around the wires the hooks 28 will snappast one another due to the rounded form or curvature thereof andautomatically come into hooked engagement as best shown in Fig. 4thereby holding the members l6 together in readiness to be insertedthrough the opening I! in the support 18 and clamping the band aroundthe wires.

When the tapered portions 20 of the members I6 are passed into theopening I! of the support, the members "S are forced together as will beapparent in Fig. 7, and come closer together as the humps I!) pass intoand through the opening as seen in Fig. 8. The hooks 28 permit of thisaction and also permit the members IE to spring or snap into theirlocking position shown in Fig. 2 when the humps are moved through saidopening. Should it be desired to open the clip after being temporarilyhooked as shown in Fig. 4 this can be accomplished readily by pushingthe members I6 slightly toward one another and forcing one of saidmembers to one side or out of alignment with the other one to disengagethe hooks.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modified form of my invention wherein thesplit band 30 is circular and lined with a cushion 3|; This band isprovided at its ends with integral snap fastening members 32 identicalwith members IS in the previously described form of my invention exceptthat the hooks are omitted therefrom. Instead of the hooks, I propose touse slip-over locking annular or washer-like members 33 to hold the bandpre-assembled on the wires in the same manner as where the hooks areemployed. This member 33 may be quickly and easily mounted in place andremoved but will remain on the snap fastening members 32 like a washerwhen the clip is installed on the support therefor.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate another modification of the invention whereinan open spring metal band 34 having a cushion 35, is formed with convexbearing portions adjacent its ends so that when the fastening members 31which are identical with members I6, are inserted as shown in Fig. 12into the opening I! in support l8 said convex portions 31 will bearagainst the support and on pushing the portions 31 into look-- ingposition will flatten out as shown in Fig. 13. This arrangement willinsure a tensioned looking contact of members 31 with the supports,where the supports are of varying thicknesses and is especiallydesirable where the clip is secured to a thin support.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention Ido not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, andthe invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents ofthe parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purviewof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wire conduit supporting clip, a spring metal open band forembracing wires or a conduit, having normally spaced apart end portions,and complementary snap fastening members projecting outwardly from theend portions of .the band for extension through an opening in -a supportfor the clip, said band being tensioned so that its ends and saidmembers are normally spaced apart to provide for the mounting ofthewires or conduit within the band and are movable toward one another sothat the band will be closed and the fastening members will be disposedfor simultaneous insertion through said opening, and locking projectionson said fastening memberfor contacting the support to lock the clipthereon when the fastening members are inserted through the opening, andmeans forming parts of said fastening members and operable when saidfastening members are brought into band closing position preliminary toinsertion thereof through said opening, for locking said fasteningmembers against springing back into their normal position.

2. In a wire conduit supporting clip, a spring metal open band .forembracing wires or a conduit, having normally spaced apart end portions,and complementary snap fastening members projecting outwardly from theend portions of the band for extension through an opening in a supportfor the clip, said bandbeing tensioned so that its ends and said membersare normally spaced apart to provide for the mounting of the wires orconduit within the band and are movable toward one another so that theband will be closed and the fastening members will be disposed forsimultaneous insertion through said opening, and locking projections onsaid fastening member for contacting the support to lock the clipthereon when the fastening members are inserted through the opening, andopposite facing hooks on said members operable upon the movement of saidmember into band closing position and before insertion through saidopening, to hook said members together.

3. In a wire conduit supporting clip, a spring metal open band forembracing wires or a conduit, having normally spaced apart end portions,and complementary snap fastening members projecting outwardly from theend portions of the band for extension through an opening in a supportfor the clip, said band being tensioned so that its ends and saidmembers are normally spaced apart to provide for the mounting of thewires or conduit within the band and are movable toward one another sothat the band will be closed and the fastening members will be disposedfor simultaneous insertion through said opening, and locking projectionson said fastening members for contacting the support to lock the clipthereon when the fastening members are inserted through the opening, andhooks operable when said fastening members are brought into band closingposition preliminary to insertion thereof through said opening, forlocking said fastening members against springing back .into their normalposition, and said fastening members having arcuate inner portions whichare extended in an edgewise manner to form said hooks.

4. In a wire conduit supporting clip, a spring metal open band forembracing wires or a conduit, having normally spaced apart end portions,and complementary snap fastening members projecting outwardly from theend portions of the band for extension through an opening in a supportfor the clip, said band being tensioned so that its endsand said membersare normally spaced apart to provide for the mounting of the wires orconduit within the band and; memoi able toward one anothersoithattheband will be closed and the fastening members will bedisposed forsimultaneous insertion through said opening, and locking projections onsaid fastening memberfor contacting thesupportto. lock the clip thereonwhen the fastening membersare inserted through the opening, :and'aremovable locking plug insertable between the outer ends of saidfastening membersvby eni'nwardmove- 1o opening'to preventsaid'membersfrom being moved out of position in which said projectionsJockingly contact. said support, said fastening members havingconverging outerend portions and said plug. having anenlargementugri-pped between said end portions to hold the plug, inplace between them.

EUGENE M. MOREHOUSE. I

